What Do Wood Ducks Eat? They Eat These 3 Things While Migrating

What do wood ducks eat in different conditions? Wood ducks mainly take water creatures such as small fish and amphibians or plants such as duckweed, pondweed, and smartweeds. However, they are seen in the oak forests and bottomlands in the winter, taking corn and other inverters while migrating.

I’ll have lights on wood ducks and their vast diet with more detailed information. Won’t you spend 5 minutes only to know about your favorite birds?

What Do Wood Ducks Eat? A Quick Overview

Wood ducks mainly consume plants, insects, larvae, and small fish from the water. However, at different times, they may have different food preferences.

Let’s have a look at their diet in a nutshell.

These are just a basic overview of wood ducks and their diet. So, they may or may not eat some of the abovementioned stuff or show allergic reactions. It varies, actually.

What Do Wood Ducks Primarily Eat? Aquatic Stuff Mainly

Well, let’s dive deep into the discussion. As I said, wood ducks primarily eat water such as larvae, water plants, and small fishes. George A. Swanson, On behalf of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, claims that, wood ducks consume animal matter more than plants.

However, let’s jump into the short details for each food category.

Aquatic Plants

So many aquatic plants come into the discussion when it is about being consumed by ducks. Duckweed, water lilies, and smartweeds are the most common ones found considering ducks’ consumption.

• Duckweeds: A tiny floating aquatic plant rich in protein and other essential nutrients. A group of researchers from Malaysia claimed duckweeds are a brilliant source of amino acids. It’s commonly found in stagnant freshwater bodies such as ponds. 
• Water Lily: Can be commonly found in slow-moving rivers and lakes. Water lilies are a good source of carbohydrates and help ducks prepare for a long flight. 
• Smart Weeds: Known as polygonum plants. It’s a wetland plant with seeds and foliage—a good energy source, protein, and minerals suitable for ducks.
• Algae: Algae is the favorite thing for ducks. In terms of nutrition, algae have a high value. However, not all algae are suitable for ducks, particularly those found in water sources near industrial areas.

I’m not saying these are the only aquatic plants ducks consume. There are other aquatic plants as well. These are just commonly seen, so I kept these three as my top picks.

Insects

Insects are another source of ducks intake. Look, wood ducks are wild and independent. So, they basically will eat whatever they find. But, by meaning it primarily, I meant things that are available according to their behavior, regions, and appetite.

However, here’s my list of pretty safe insects that wood ducks commonly consume:

• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Beetles
• Flies
• Caterpillars

Although ducks can eat so many other insects, some may cause hazards. For example, ants. Although not all the ants are dangerous, some specific ants, like the red fire ants, can attack ducks and injure them!

Amphibians

Wood ducks consume amphibians occasionally, such as tadpoles and tiny frogs. They consume amphibians while migrating and breeding especially.

I think amphibians are a convenient choice for these ducks. Wood ducks often share nesting areas and wetlands where amphibians are an easy find.

On top of that, they travel to various North American regions during migration. These regions utilize wetlands, lakes, and rivers which host amphibian populations.

Small Fishes

Wood ducks live in forested wetlands and hugely rely on small fishes. Here’s what fish wood ducks eat in general:

• Minnows
• Guppies
• Gobies
• Sticklebacks

Small fish are usually a good source of protein. So, especially for baby wood ducks, these small fishes might boost their growth. As many of the fish are quite small, and wild birds have immunity, these fish won’t cause choking hazards.

Larvae

Regarding larvae, the first name that comes to my mind is mosquito. Ducks eat mosquito larvae, and these are quite nutritious for them. However, larvae can be consumed by both the baby wood ducks and the adult wood ducks. It barely will cause choking hazards and is a good protein provider for them.

Small Invertebrates

Small invertebrates are a good source of nutrition for wood ducks. These are well known to have protein, amino acids, some carbohydrates, and minerals. These nutrients help ducks to grow well and maintain overall body functions.

As these are available in various aquatic environments like ponds, marshes, and wetlands, ducks can access them easily.

3 Things Wood Ducks Eat While Migrating

During migrating, there aren’t any significant changes in their diets. It’s just the availability of food that brings changes in their diet. However, they consume crustaceans, waste grains, and maybe berries sometimes. They also consume insects and other aquatic plants as well.

1. Crustaceans

You should know the migration routes for wood ducks first. The migration route includes the Northern and southern parts of the United States. So, they utilize various habitat types along the way, including freshwater bodies like crustaceans.

 These creatures are protein-rich food that is available and nutritious for wood ducks.  

2. Waste Grains

In agricultural regions such as the central venue of California, wood ducks may find waste grains like corn and wheat left behind in fields. These waste grains provide energy and are incredibly beneficial for them since they fly a long way.

North American wood ducks, native to Canada, Mexico, and Saint Pierre, are usually known to take waste grains.

Related Reading: What Do Ducks Eat In The Water

3. Berries

Although not very usual, if ducks come into contact with fruits, they may eat those. Why consider berries here particularly? Because their migrating route may have berry plants. These plants are commonly seen in California, Washington, and Oregon. For instance, the Californian state government claims strawberries are one of California’s top 10 agricultural commodities.

As they migrate to cooler regions during the summer, they pass through these areas and might consume some if available. Nonetheless, wood ducks consuming berries is not uncommon. In general, backyard ducks are fond of berry fruits.

Recommended Reading: What Do Wild Ducks Eat

Bottom Line

Wood ducks mainly eat aquatic plants. But they aren’t too different from the other duck species according to their diet. They can also eat fruits and grains.

Source and References:

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833522000168